Tagged With weightlifting

We all hit a slump near the beginning of a fitness program. Not at the very start, when we’re excited to get going — more like a few weeks in. It may take six weeks to notice more muscle or better endurance, but how do you get through that time without losing hope?

Squatting seems so complicated when somebody is telling you all the things that can go wrong — knees behind toes! Butt farther down! Head up! But not too up! If you’re following our challenge, you’re probably doing a lot more squats than you ever have before, so let’s talk about how we’re doing them.

Crossfit's intense workouts are a polarising subject of discussion. It seems the first rule of Crossfit club is that you must never shut up about Crossfit club, and on the flip side, the sport (routine? Discipline? Hobby?) has its share of haters. So let's take a minute to cut through that for anyone who's intrigued but isn't sure what they would be getting into and whether it's worthwhile.

"I CAN GIVE YOU MASSIVE ARMS, BROAD SHOULDERS, AND A GIANT SIZED CHEST IN JUST FOUR WEEKS," the Body-Tone pamphlet promises. It is the "World's Fastest Strength and Muscle Building System". It cost $20 in the late 1950s, but today the program is available for free in the Stark Center Archives. I am ready to begin.

If you lift weights, you've got to fuel your body -- but no matter what you pick, chances are somebody at your gym will tell you your choice of snack is the wrong one. So what is the "right" thing to eat? And does it really matter when?

I've been doing that pull-up program we posted two weeks ago, and guess what? It works. At the beginning, I could do about half a pull-up, and now I can get my nose up to the bar. I also more than doubled the amount of time I can hang from the bar with my arms flexed. Here's how I did it.

If you can only work out a couple days per week, you probably do both your lifting and cardio exercises on the same days. While that's not ideal, you can maximise the benefits if you lift before you run. Here's why.

Maybe you can't go to the gym. Maybe you don't want to go to the gym. Maybe the gym is too darn expensive. Good thing you can turn to your phone for an instant workout. Which app gives the best workouts, though? Today, we find out.

Crunches and planks aren't everything. If you want to strengthen your core, you need to think bigger. Your core includes all the muscles in your torso, from your shoulders down to your hips. And it does a lot more than help you sit up.

Here's a fun variation on side lunges. The Cossack goblet squat challenges you to balance on one leg while pivoting the other so your toes face up. It's a great workout for the muscles along the outside of your hip...okay, all your leg muscles really.

In gym circles, debates over gear like weightlifting belts, gloves or shoes can get ugly. Either they're a crutch or you're a fool for not wearing them. But like belts, weightlifting shoes can help in some cases, but in others they're just for show. The key is figuring out your needs, and your goals.

Is today the day you're going to start working out more often? Or are you just getting back to what you used to do before all the holiday parties messed with your schedule? Either way, it's time to get started. We've picked out six workouts that are perfect for your first (or second) day back.

If you want to get stronger, some kind of resistance training is the way to go. So when you walk into the gym, should you start loading plates onto a barbell or should you just walk up to the first easy-to-use machine you spot? Let's compare both approaches.

When you picture someone smoking weed, a person cranking out reps in the gym is probably the last thing you'd think of. But some triathletes, bodybuilders, and marathon runners say it helps them focus and reduce anxiety. Here's what's really going on when you workout high.

Common sense says you should never workout when you're not feeling well, but there are a few exceptions. If you're worried your illness is taking you off track of your fitness goals, here's what you need to know.